Dynamics in Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients Following Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by
, , , and
Iryna Makhnevych
1,2,*, 
Mussab Ibrahim Mohamed Fadl Elseed
2,
Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed Musa
2,
Jood Jasem Shaddad Alblooshi
2,
Darya Smetanina
2,
Faisal Tahsin
2 and
Yauhen Statsenko
2,* 1
Psychiatry Department, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 112412, United Arab Emirates
2
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2025, 17(19), 3108; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17193108
Submission received: 26 August 2025
/
Revised: 12 September 2025
/
Accepted: 19 September 2025
/
Published: 24 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life)
Simple Summary
Surgical treatment is a cornerstone in breast cancer management, yet its long-term influence on quality of life (QoL) remains variable and not fully understood. This study examined the dynamic patterns of global QoL following different surgical approaches, including breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, and breast reconstruction. By tracking overall QoL changes over time, this research aimed to generate clinically meaningful insights into how surgical choices shaped the survivorship experience. The aim was to advance personalized, patient-centered care. This is accomplished by providing clinicians and patients with robust, evidence-based insights into recovery trajectories and long-term well-being. The results may also inform the wider research community by pinpointing key periods for supportive interventions and shaping future psycho-oncology and survivorship studies.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Surgical treatment is central to breast cancer management; however, its long-term impact on QoL varies substantially among patients. This study sought to model the dynamic trajectories of postoperative QoL following breast-conserving surgery (BCS), mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (Mx+IR), and mastectomy alone (MA). It also examined how these trajectories varied across different age groups and over time. Materials and Methods: The review and meta-analysis identified 150 peer-reviewed studies reporting QoL outcomes using validated instruments (EORTC QLQ-C30 or BREAST-Q). A total of 123 observations from 45 studies were included for analysis of global QoL. We standardized QoL scores to a 0–100 scale and harmonized postoperative assessments across six time intervals, extending to more than 73 months. Multilevel random-effects models evaluated linear, quadratic, and logarithmic functions. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions assessed the moderating effects of surgical type and age. Results: BCS showed the steepest QoL gains, followed by Mx+IR, while MA had the lowest scores and slowest recovery. Compared to BCS, MA showed significantly poorer and delayed recovery, and Mx+IR showed a smaller, borderline decrease. All groups displayed modest long-term QoL plateauing. Conclusions: Global QoL after breast cancer surgery follows distinct, time-dependent patterns shaped by surgical approach and age. These findings emphasize the importance of discussing patients’ quality-of-life expectations with them so that survivorship care can be personalized to their needs.
